CITY ROOM; A Reconfigured Aerie

By ROBIN FINN

Published: April 14, 2013

An indulgent and elegant apartment on the 42nd floor of the Trump International Hotel and Tower, which was reconfigured to a two-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bath aerie from the original four bedrooms and six baths by the designer Jeffrey Bilhuber, sold for $16.25 million and was the most expensive sale of the week, according to city records.

The condominium, No. 42C at One Central Park West, had been listed last year at $19.9 million and sold after a reduction to $17.9 million; the monthly carrying charges are $12,531, and, as with most Trump properties, oodles of amenities are included with the privilege of ownership.

The 4,415-square-foot residence, which has impressive views of Central Park, the Hudson River and the cityscape, sold for $5.04 million as a sponsor unit in 1997. After the owner enlisted Mr. Bilhuber to modernize and dramatize it, the property was featured in the May 2001 issue of Architectural Digest. Among other changes, he installed bamboo flooring in the foyer, created a private master suite with a limestone bath and separate dressing room, and designed an equally impressive guest suite with an elevated Japanese soaking tub made from black soapstone.

The multiwindowed entertainment section of the home has a powder room, and there is also a maid’s or utility half-bath. Both seller and buyer retained anonymity under the shield of limited-liability companies. The new owner is identified as SB Manhattan; Susan James, the director of residential sales at Trump International Hotel and Tower, represented the seller, 21 East Corp.

Across town, a full-floor co-op at 1067 Fifth Avenue, a 1917 limestone apartment house designed by Charles Pierrepont Henry Gilbert, sold for $8.325 million and was the week’s runner-up. The unit, with monthly maintenance of $7,560, had been listed at $8.995 million. The 12-story building has one residence per floor.

The co-op, No. 5, had been owned for decades by Daniel David Brockman, a lawyer and arts patron who was integral in efforts to preserve Carnegie Hall, and his wife, Elizabeth Brockman, a pianist. It has four bedrooms, four baths, three wood-burning fireplaces and oak parquet floors. Four principal rooms — the living, dining and music rooms and the library — have sweeping views of Central Park.

The estate of Elizabeth Brockman, with the Brockmans’ son, Richard Brockman, as the executor, was represented by Frosty Montgomery of Brown Harris Stevens. The buyers are Miles N. Ruthberg, a partner of Latham & Watkins, and his wife, Catherine Schreiber Ruthberg, a theater producer.